Arrival Preparations

Text Version

last updated: 4/4/08

In preparation for your arrival at Goddard, here is a list of things you need to do before arriving. 
1. Must notify Intern Coordinator of exact starting date that you        
    start work and ending date. A formal letter stating agreement between you
    and your mentor will be emailed to you by the intern coordinator.
2. Have housing arrangements already made prior to arrival. Housing
    in this area is very limited so the earlier you get started on this the
    better.
3. Have original documents such as social security card or birth
    certificate, Driver's License,passport (if not social security
    card or birth certificate), with you on your first day to
    process employment paperwork at CUA. NO COPIES ARE
    ALLOWED.

Summer Housing: 
If you live nearby this will not be a problem. For those of you from out of town, you will need to find a place beforehand. Begin looking at least three weeks before your arrival. The University of Maryland at College Park is less than 5 miles from Goddard. Many landlords will be losing their tenants during the summer and are willing to sublet a room for 8 to 12 weeks. Nearby Capitol College also provides summer housing to students working at Goddard. Here are some resources to help you in your search: 

GEWA is the newsletter for NASA/GSFC. The website is at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/gnews_detail.html

Subleasing apts information can be reached at the following:Need to be a UMD student.
www.southcampuscommons.com
Click onto Re-leasing Process on the left hand menu, then go
to view entire SCC Re-leasing Bulletin Board
people post subleases to their apts. for the summer


Plans are in the works to provide group housing on fraternity row at the nearby University of Maryland. Contact the intern coordinator at
interns@lssp-mail.gsfc.nasa.gov .

Capitol College Residence Life #(301) 369-2800 (ask for Aretha Milligan) 
http://www.capitol-college.edu/administrativeoffices/residencelife/summerhousinginfo/coop.shtml 
Washington Bible College #(301) 552-1400 ext. 211
(Ask for the Student Ministry Coordinator, Jodi Broschart)
http://www.bible.edu

University of Maryland Off Campus Housing Online Search 
http://umd.och101.com/ 

Diamondback classified ads (U. of Md. student newspaper) 
http://www.diamondbackonline.com 


other sites: 
http://www.apartments.com
http://www.apartmentguide.com
http://www.easyroommate.com
http://www.homestore.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-adv/classifieds/rentals/
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/class/classifieds.html

Transportation:
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authorities Ride Guide
(calculate bus routes and distances between locations) 
http://www.wmata.com/
DC Metro Map
DC Metro Fares and Schedules
NASA/GSFC can be reached at the Greenbelt Station on the Green Line, or from the
New Carrollton Station off the orange line from both these Metro stations you can
catch a short bus ride.

From the Dulles Airport, VA:
Go to this link and it will list several ways to get from Dulles to Metro station
the cab fare is old, it will probably be much higher due to gasoline prices:
http://www.airwise.com/airports/us/IAD/IADtran1.html

Goddard Access Badge: 
Students will be granted a temporary access badge for the summer. Badges are obtained in the security police building (phone # 301-286-7211) next to the main gate entrance just off of Greenbelt Road. Please pick up your badge on your first day of work at the security building.  Locator forms and keys will need to be obtained by the intern coordinator.

Employment Paperwork: 
A passport, visa and social security card for international students, driver's license, social security card, passport or birth certificate for US citizens are required for this purpose.  Please have these original forms, no copies, with you on the first day at Goddard. As an intern, you will be employed as a visiting scientist through the Catholic University of America.  Drop by the campus and visit the physics advisor Gail Hershey. (Depending on how many arrivals on a certain day, I will take you to CUA to do paperwork.) Her phone # (202) 319-5315. She is located in room #200, Hannon Hall. The campus is located in Washington D.C. northeast of Howard University. The links below provide directions:
http://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/~interns/CUA/map.html
http://law.cua.edu/admissions/visit.cfm
http://tour.cua.edu/map_main.cfm